Switch-operating device.



No. 644,299. Patented Feb. 27, moo.

.1. A. P. McDONALD.

SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

(Application filed Aug. 26, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No.-644,299. Patented Feb. 27, I900.

J. A. P. McDONALD. SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

(Application filed Aug. 26, 1899.)

2 Sheets$heet 2.

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SPECIFICATION fofii'fii part bf Letters Patent No. 644,299,' dated February 27, 1900.

' Application fii'i'liu usi 26, 1399. Serial No. 728,622. (No niodel.)

To all whom it may concern..-

- Be it known that I, JOHN A. P. MCDONALD,

a .citizen of the United States, residing at Bradford, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Switch-Operating Device, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates, to vswitch-operating devices, but more particularly to that; class which are adapted to be controlled by an operator from a locomotive or tram-car; and it ,consists'of the parts and combinationof parts,

" aswill be fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the'accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto" annexed and forming a part of this specification.

which is In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan View of a portion of a track, illustrating myimproved switch-throwinglmechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is anenla rged top plan View of the mechanism adjacent to the switch. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism adjacent to the switch; and

Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive, are details of the va-,

rious parts.

Referring now to the drawings by'referencennmerals, 12 and 13 indicate the main rails, and 14 and 15 the rails of a siding or branch track.

16 and 17 are movable or switch rails,'to

anism.

In carrying out my invention I employ a plate 18, secured to the cross-ties 19, and on one end of whichiare cast or otherwise secured two upwardly-projectingbearings 20 and 20 and 21 and 21, one set at each corner, and about midway theside edges of this plate are positioned projections 22 and 23, which prevent a lateral displacement of the locking,

dogs 24 and 25, therear ends of which are held between the hearings on the plate by a suitable bolt. The forwardendsof these dogs are curved at their lower edgesand immediately in rear thereof have approximately-semicircular cut-out portions'to be. hereinafter referred to.

26 is a block ofmetal containing the two dogs and is provided at'its upper end with a cross-head 27, the purpose of which will be as at 45. bar 29 is connected to a short bar 46, which pivoted the switch-operating mechbar 29, which is guided thereon by theinner edges of the two bearings 20 and 21 at one end thereof and at the other by the lugs 30. Intermediate the ends of this bar 29 .is a tripping-head 30, substantially semicircular in.v cross-section, which is designed to raise the dogs when the bar is moved either toward or away from the bearings thereof.

31 is a transversely-arranged bar bifurcated at each end, as at 32 and 33, .and is designed. to engage the sides of the switch-rails.

the slot are seats 33 and 34, adapted to receive the arms 35 and 36 of the cross-head 27,

which projectsthrough said slot..

Gonnectedat 37 to the bar 31 by a pin 31, working in the slot 31", is a bell-crank or elbow lever 38, pivoted at 39 to one of the cross-ties. and having a T-shaped end 40, which is slotted at '41 to receive the bifurcated end 42 of an operating-rod 43, connected by a link connection 44, secured to the sliding bar 29.at one end and at the other to the operating-rod 43, The remaining end ofthe slidable pivotally engages an intermediately-pivoted lever 47, connected to an operating-rod 48,

similar to the rod 43. The free ends of these operating-rods are connected to the switchoperating mechanism, which I construct as follows: At a. suitable distance from the switch-throwing mechanism just described I secure a guide-plate 49, having upwardly-extending and curved side flanges and 51, on the inner sides of which are ribs 52't0 over- This bar is slotted longitudinally its length for a short distance, as at 32, and on each side of lap the upper edges of the flanges 53 of the operating I-shaped block 54. It will be noticed that the plate 49 is cut out at 55 to accommodate the downwardly-extending portion 56 of this block 54 to more securely hold it in position. As it is customary to employ signals in connection with all switches, I pro-' vide an automatic signal in the shape of a transverse rod 57, connected to one of the movable rails and eccentrically to a mutilated gear 58, which meshes with a smaller gear 59, which carries the signal-standard.

By reference to Fig.2 it will be seen that I have provided apeculiar, construction of tramcar or locomotive throwing mechanism com prising the pivoted depending arm's 60, which will be positioned beneath the tram-car or'locomotive in suitable brackets 61 and onthe free ends of which are the contact-block 62 and the wheels 63 and 64, held suspended, so that they will always be in a position toengage a switch-operating block, but high enough to prevent their coming in contact with the crosswill travel on the flanges 50 and 51. The head carried by the arms will strike the, sliding block, push the operating-rod forwardly, and force thelongitudinally-sl'idable barforward. Ifhe tripping-head .will raise the dogs, and at'the same time the transverse bar'tvillpush the movable rails totheleft of the track, so

that the train will enter the siding; When the dogs are raised, it is obvious that the cross-head will also rise, and as the movements of the long tudinal and transverse bar are practically simultaneous as soonas the switch is operated the head will drop in the seats nearest the right-hand end of' thetrack and the switch will be positively locked in that position. Now when the train reaches the farther operatingmechanism the sliding block thereof will be struck and the switch will be thrown back and. locked in its original position and the main. track will be .clear. Of course the operation of the switch would be the same if actuated by a train coming onto the main track from the siding. Y

While I have illustrated tram-operating mechanism in the center of the car and the block to be actuated. thereby, it is obviousthat I might position these on the side of the car and road-bed, respectively, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, withont departing from the spirit of my invention.

Have thus fully described my invention,

what-I claim as new, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

r 1. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with the movable vrails of a switch, of a slotted transverse bar connecting said'rails, having two sets of seats in its upper edge, dogs pivoted beneath saidbar, a cross-head carried by said dogs, normally seated in one set of seats and means for raising saidcross-head out of the seats, inwhich i't'rests and dropping it in the otherset, substantially as described. I

,2. In a switch-throwing mechanism, the combination with a transverse bar, a longitudinally-slidable bar, a cross-head adapted to engage saidoross-bar, and pivoted supports for said cross-head adapted to be operated by the longitudinal bar, whereby the said transverse bar will be locked in a-predetermined position, when the switch is opened or closed, substantially as described.

3. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with the movable rails of a switch, of a transverse bar connecting the same, having portions adapted to be engaged when the switch is closed and when open, pivoted dogs arranged and carrying a crosshead to engage'said portions, a bar for actuating the dogs and operating-rods and a bellcrank lever for openingand closing the switch, substantially as described.

4. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with. the movable. rails of a switch, of pi voted dogs intermediate the sides of the rails, a cross-head carried thereby, a transverse bar connecting the said rails, and provided with a slot through which the crosshead projects,-a longitudinally slidable bar adapted. to operate the dogs whereby the transverse bar is locked in a predetermined position when the switch is opened or closed, and a bell-crank lever and rods for sliding the transverse bar, substantially as described.

5. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with a car, downwardly-projecting pivotally-secured arms extending therefrom, aweighted head on the forward ends of said arms, and wheels on either side of the head, substantially as described.

JOHN A. P; MCDONALD.

I Witnesses:

J. J. Knnon, M. F. HAYES. 

